Grammar celebrates 100% pass rate
Friday 21st August 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Nikita Elliott, left, and Verity Tongs celebrate their good results. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0828886)
A-LEVEL results at the Grammar School reached a record level this year with 88% of grades being A to C.
The school’s Sixth Form Centre received a 100% pass rate.
‘The results are excellent,’ said head teacher Jeff Smith. ‘We have improved, particularly on the top end of the grades. They’re better than last year.’
Blanchelande College retained its 100% pass rate this year with an unusually small class of just seven Upper-Sixth girls taking A-levels.
‘I am thrilled for the girls,’ said head teacher Lesley Le Page. ‘The most important thing is that they get what they need to get them to the next stage, and they all have.’
Students at College of Further Education upped the pass rate to 99%. Those studying BTECs, which are equivalent to three A-levels, have seen the pass rate rise by a percentage on last year.
‘We are delighted,’ said vice-principal Steve Dudley. ‘More importantly, 30% are at distinction, which is fantastic.’
High A-level grades do not mean exams are getting easier, according to the Ladies’ College principal.
The school again recorded a 100% pass rate. ‘It’s obviously quite upsetting for the students if they feel their efforts have been denigrated,’ said Jo Riches.
Elizabeth College students set a new school record as almost half achieved A grades. But the overall pass rate dropped from the 100% that the college has enjoyed for four years to 98%.
Vice principal academic Rick James was happy. ‘The pass rate dropped from 100%, but that had to happen at sometime, and I am pleased that 48% achieved A grades and a quarter received three A grades.’
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Great stuff. I’m very pleased for the latest round of students.
However at least two of the schools mentioned achieve these results using a very dubious practice. They very effectively weed out the poor pupils throughout the year to make sure only those who are likely to shine actually sit the exams. Hey presto a 100% pass rate and straight to the top of the league table.
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Now, I dont want to take anything away from the students, and I used to be the first to defend against them when people say that the exams are getting easier – but I am starting to question, how on earth year on year the exam results are better and better? especially when class sizes are apparently growing? Also – if we keep losing all these “high quality” teachers every year due to housing issues, and this is effecting the continuity and quality of teaching, how on earth are the schools still chruning out high grades? Maybe they are getting easier? Maybe the teachers that they are losing werent that great in the first place? Maybe the students themselves are just so concious and bright that none of the above matter. In which case why bother with A level teachers? Why not do a distance learning, teach yourself style? Save us a few bob on teachers salaries and lower the population all in 1 foul swoop. Maybe Pink Floyd are right, we dont need no education.
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I always thought the grading took place after marking and the top X% of marks got A, the next X% got B and so on. In that way it evened out the exams grades year on year so even if one year the exam WAS easier, there would still be the same % of passes and fails. At then you knew that a student with a B grade in 1981 was commensurate in skill to the student awarded a B grade in 1987 for instance.
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First of all, congratulations to all students.
Debbie – I believe that norm-referenced grading (allocating a certain % of passes) was removed in the mid-1980s. Nowadays, the grade is awarded according to the percentage attained.
I must admit to finding talk of 100% pass rates quite amusing. Yes it may be statistically correct however I’m in my 30s and even when I was at school I was always given the impression that anything less than a C grade wasn’t a pass. I suppose times have changed.
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Mrs Pinthepantry
Absolutely correct!!!
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Debs – Nope. That’d make sense….
Instead it’s all done by grades…
80-100% = A
70-79% = B
60-69% = C
50-59% = D
40-49% = E
Lower than 40% is a fail
(It’s actually a bit more complicated as I’m sure some outraged parent will point out, but the grades are set before the pass marks are known)
btw, Exams ARE getting easier. It’s the fault of Labour policy and frankly, it’s a shame as no-one wins in this situation, not employers, not students, erm, well, I suppose maybe teachers and schools, but, you know, no-one to whom the results really matter.
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Why say exams are getting easier? Can no-one accept that the kids may just be getting smarter? Ever wandered why it gets harder and harder to help your child with homework? Exactly, and that alone proves my point.
Congratulations has to go to the students as even if the test was easy this year the grade boundaries are moved as a result. i.e an easy test has higher boundaries for A grade than a harder test. It is all relative to how the UK did as a whole.
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Starscream – I don’t think your point on helping with homework is valid in this case.
Perhaps one of the reasons it is harder to help children with their homework is that most of the skills and knowledge taught at school have little application in day to day life, therefore the older we get the less attuned our minds are to that kind of study. For example, I used to be able to work out fractions etc for maths reasonably well but wouldn’t have a clue now as I haven’t had to use that skill for about 18 years.
Also, don’t forget that teaching methods and the types of skills taught these days have changed dramatically. Not to mention the fact that students have study aids that were never available to older generations, such as calculators, computers etc. In the “good ol’ days” things had to be worked out in your head.
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Student Bob – alongside your points, irrespective of whether exams are easier or not, when 40% in an exam is counted as a “pass” it certainly puts the “100% pass” record touted by the Grammar School into some degree of perspective.
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Paul Le P
Not infrequently students pass the more difficult subjects with marks that are significantly below 40%
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Congratulations to all the students who passed regardless of grade.
I do however feel for the pupils who have been let down by the education system who leave school with no literacy or numeracy skills what so ever, who have no aspirations and who will inevitably end up on the dole or worse in prison. Look how many Special Ed schools we have for such a small island and this is a sure sign somewhere along the line the children have/and are being failed by the educational system. Perhaps it is time the whole 11+ structure was revisited and replaced with an ongoing assessment model.
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I’m feeling slightly lightheaded as I find myself almost entirely in agreement with Pete Burtenshaw’s 8.15 pm posting.
I would ask him to add parents and grandparents to the list of those who may be letting down the children as well as the other adults with whom they may have to have dealings. If children are given no example or direction when out of school, it seems unlikely that their teachers will have much success.
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Yes well done all you students !
Having such a high pass rate is decreasing the value of A levels – Industry will tell you this. When I was at school the pass rate for an exam was 45%. This was the starting point and no one knew what grade they would be awarded until all marks were in – they then determined how many would get an A, B, C etc….i.e there was no pass mark for each grade. I think they need to move back to this.
IF kids and I mean IF, are getting brighter then may be the exams need to be made more difficult to weed out the less bright students ? We / industry must be able to sort out applicants.
Also, why is it that Universities all over are having to either insist potential students sit an entrance exam based around maths or have to spend the first year teching students maths (for example) which should have been taught at A level or even GCSE level ?
There are a lot of different subjects on offer now and some of these are soft options taken by students just so they can say they have an A Level – degrees are becoming the same too. Whilst A level results are breaking records year on year you have to look at the fact that the number of passes at A level in Maths and Science based subjects are falling year on year !!
I also think with today’s qualifications there are too many marks awarded to course work. Subjects should be marked only against exams. Either this or once again the pass rate should be increased to say 60% if course work is going to be taken into account.
It has been proven on that TV programme (can’t remember the name sorry) that the modern student can’t pass the older O Level examination or the 11+ etc…
Finally, I can never understand why you can get more questions wrong than correct and pass an exam i.e pass mark 40% ? Should this be increase to pass mark 60% ? What would be the pass rate if the pass mark was increased to 60% I wonder ?
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John – to answer your final question:
Taking it as read that Student Bob’s figures are correct, I believe the Grammar School pass rate would have been 88% – as 60% is a C grade.
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Perhaps this will help…. it’s the marking grid for my degree course. My degree is basically marked along the same lines as A’levels and the grid shows what level of knowledge is expected of us to attain a certain mark.
“70 – 100 – Makes effective use of a comprehensive range of theory and practice knowledge. Is able to manipulate and transfer some material to demonstrate a grasp of some of the themes, questions and issues in both theory and practice.
60 – 69.9 – Ample knowledge of a fair range of relevant theoretical and practice related material. Intermittent evidence of an appreciation of its significance
50 – 59.9 – Adequate knowledge of a limited range of relevant theoretical and practice related material with intermittent evidence of an appreciation of its significance
40 – 49.9 – Basic understanding of a limited range of theoretical and practice related material. Little appreciation of its significance
0 – 39.9 – Lack of the basic knowledge in either theory or practice necessary for an understanding of the topic.”
This grid is for a healthcare professional, relied upon to make autonomous decisions about YOUR health. Would you be comfortable knowing that they were making choices that affect you whilst only having “Basic understanding of a limited range of material”?
Schools and universities are churning out kids who are barely capable yet hold the qualifications they need. It’s irresponsible.
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funny I don’t recall anyone questioning the college 100% pass rate. Mrs p. I agree some schools do exactly what you say and the grammar schoolis not one of them. care to tell us which schools you mean?
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With reference to your last posting Student Bob – you have now got me seriously concerned and very worried about health professionals only having “Basic understanding of a limited range of material”. Can I opt for a health professional who has “70 – 100 – Makes effective use of a comprehensive range of theory and practice knowledge. Is able to manipulate and transfer some material to demonstrate a grasp of some of the themes, questions and issues in both theory and practice.
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Kevin – It’s not a surprise that the Grammar School is singled out as it is not only mentioned in the headline title, it’s also the first school mentioned. I don’t think there’s anything more sinister about people’s comments than that.
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Completely agree with Mrs. P, i was a student at the grammar school 2 years ago after moving from the UK and was discusting at the favourtism. If you werent a shinning A grade student you were ignored by the head, deputy head, careers councilers and most teachers (the odd teacher that this isnt true for were booted out the year i left). I really felt let down by this school and ended up leaving after AS levels due to being basically pushed out.
I also agree the 11+ should be revisited and seriously soon, it is ridiculously outdated and have no relevance to a child’s intelligence! anyone heard of SAT’s? they’ve been working for god knows how many years in the UK and other countrys in Europe!
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ex pupil. Please tell me you didn’t get an A grade in English literacy.
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ex pupil – why were you pushed out? perhaps you were not able to deal with the work (especially English and grammar…. sorry ). It is always good to hear from disillousioned pupils, especially ones who have effectively “taken” places that other children may have enjoyed.
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CD & sarnia expat -
Crikey!
I thought I was one for snarky comments but I should be taking lessons from you two.
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CD & sarnia -
hope that made you feel better. what does spelling have to do with the point I and other are making?
this is a forum for opinions not for nasty comments like that what did ever do to you?
and sarnia expat i “have effectively TAKEN places that others may have enjoyed?” so there’s a limit to people who can attend sixth form in Guernsey is there? and i as a disillousioned pupil have taken someones place? so do i not have a right to a place in sixth form?
i think you’d better stop commenting on this site if all you here to do is put people down your obviously a very sad and pathetic individual if thats all you can come up with .. a nasty snide comment! hope i NEVER have to meet you
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Well said ex pupil. Sarnia expat obviously left the island because he didnt pass his 11+ to grammer school. tut tut assumptions assumptions
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Thanks Ben and ex pupil.
Sorry ex pupil to have ruffled your feathers. I didn’t realise that you had joined the ranks of the Sixth Form at GS, but had enjoyed being educated there from primary school. To gain a place at the GS is something that a lot of people put great store by – and surely to get there requires a good knowledge of ALL subjects – perhaps I was rather rude – so I apologise.
Don’t worry, I doubt we will run into each other – I have long since left school and would be far too boring for you to associate with I am sure! I am, however, very appreciative for my Guernsey education.
11 plus? What’s that? ben (with a small B) please enlighten me! I thought it was something you had to pass in order to get to the GS?!!?!
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Starscream
Its quite easy to determine the relevant difficulty of exams.
Using the wonderful tool that is the internet, you can quite easily download, for example a 1992 A level maths paper, and a 2005 A level maths paper.
Why dont you take a few hours, sit them both, and then come on here telling us how you got on.
Personallly I only needed to look at the first 3 questions.
Personallly I think a better comparison would be 1992 GCSE maths, to 2005 A level maths
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what will the pass rate be next year? 102% ?
the exams are getting easier to pass….no question about it. we need to make the exams harder and start to teach the kids more life skills. i bet they dont teach you how to clean and iron any more, or how to change a nappy…home economics !
now they just teach you how to use a computer.
do they still teach kids how to use an abacus? i bet not.we are going to have a huge problem in the future with fat, lazy, thick adults. mark my words.
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Now watch how many of them can’t manage to finish even an easy university course! The dumming down of A levels continues!
Teachers push, Parents push, The school as a whole pushes, but this vanishes at Uni, and its left up to the student.
I got miserable A level results and I know plenty of students who did better than me at A level, but have not managed to acheive a 2.2/2.1 or 1st.
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ogm, Could not have put it better myself. Harsh but already proving to be a true but sad reality.
Can only hope that the tide will turn when these children become unemployable because they have not the ability to think for themselves or care to contribute. We need less of the ‘what’s in it for me’.
SATs teach children how to pass an exam question, they do not teach children how to find an answer. Calculators are not a school aid, they are one of many seeds of inability to strive for an answer.
Perhaps the whole school model has now changed and it is just about attaining grades rather than really understanding the subjects.
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old guernsey man, other than your smashing display picture, I’d love to know what grade you have got in your previous exams, and if you’d be happy to sit the exams students sit these days.
I think it’s more of the fact that students are pushed, and the exams are more important to them.
As many years ago it was not, some students didn’t even know when their exams were.
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Interesting thread, but GG, I think you are missing the point. When people complain about grade inflation, they are not trying to denigrate
todays students. They are concerned that the efforts of students of previous years are being devalued. I see no reason why one year of students should be more or less clever than any other, statistically.
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Guern abroad makes an interesting point. When students are taught how to pass exams rather than actually learn the subject, there is bound to be a discrepancy between paper grades and actual ability.
It’s interesting that in my career field, this happened with Microsoft qualifications. People would attain the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer qualification straight from school by going to “boot camps” that taught them to pass the exams in a couple of weeks. These newly “qualified” systems engineers would be sent out to work with absolutely no working knowledge of products they were professionally qualified on! This led to the rise of the industry definition of the “paper MCSE” – good on paper, useless in reality. In comparison people with experience who didn’t have qualifications were often far better job candidates. Eventually Microsoft had to change their exam system to retain credibility and they are now starting to roll out exams based on practical simulations of real life problems.
I wonder whether a similar situation will happen eventually with A Levels, where it won’t be so much about preparing students to pass exams as preparing them for real life by giving them a good working knowledge of the subject alongside life skills.
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Why are more kids passing?
Easy….. competition.
Increased competition drives people to work harder. Work harder in the workforce, work harder to own a home, work harder at school.
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Actually, grade inflation (if it is indeed present) is not so much of a problem as some make out.
Employers and universities tend to use exam results as a way of ranking applicants – you take the person with the highest grades. And since any possible grade inflation is gradual year on year, and you’re mostly comparing people who did the exams at about the same time (e.g. you’re recruiting recent school leavers), it doesn’t matter if there has been grade inflation between 1989 and 2009.
The only time it might matter is if everyone gets the same grade, since then you can’t use the results to rank people. But we’re a long way off this yet for most purposes (universities like Oxford and Cambridge excepted).
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